Educational device



Dec. 22, 1931. s. L. BAUMGARTEN EDUCATI ONAL DEVIC E Filed July 20, 1929 Hilllvlllilnlllll I @v4-y. f

TQR i ATTORNEY Patentedr Dec. 22, 1931 UNiTED STATES SAMUEL L. BAUMGABTEN, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK EDUCATIONAL DEVICE Appliulltin led July 20,

My invention relates to educational or game apparatus, designed principally for the amusement and instruction of children.

While capable of various uses, some of which are referred to below, in the resent embodiment it is designed principe ly for use in playin spelling games or the like, in which the c ilds vocabulary and alertness are increased or stimulated.

To this end, the apparatus comprises a base or frame containing a slate or pad, and a wheel revolubly mounted thereon, having pins defining letter or other spaces suitably marked and a pointer or ratchet to cooperate with the pins to stop the wheel and indicate a letter or other character, whereupon the user will enter the character on the slate or pad, and by repeatedly spinning the wheel will thus build up words or other character combinations in any of various ways.

A further important feature of the invention consists in mounting the wheel on a support or frame which is hingedly connected to the main frame so that when not in use the wheel may be turned down compactly on the main frame, slate or pad.

A further advantage consists in simple, durable, and economical structural features, and especially the structural details of the wheel frame and cooperating features of the main frame, as will appear.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further suiciently explained in connection with the following detail description of the accompanying drawings, which shows one representative embodiment. After considering this example, skilled persons will understand that many variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed, and I contemplate the employment of any structures that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus in operative position, with a part in section.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of details of the frame and hinge structure in separated condition.

1980. Serial lo. 879,598.

A base or main frame 10 is arranged, as specifically here shown, to support a slate 11. Otherwise, a paper pad may be supported in the base or frame. The pad or slate is usually ruled with horizontal and vertical lines providing character spaces. The wheel 12 is revolubly supported in a wheel frame 13, and this frame is hingedly connected to the main frame at 14, so that the wheel frame and wheel may be laid flat down on the main frame, pad or slate, for convenient storing when not in use. In a preferred form, as shown, the wheel frame 1s formed of stiff wire or rods, including a rod bent to modified U form, with a wheel pintle 16 connected at the center of its horizontal member by welding, brazing or otherwise. The pintle may be formed as the part of another rod or wire 17 which extends vertically and has at its upper end a forwardly bent portion 18. The wheel is suitably marked with number or letter spaces 19 around its periphery, with suitable legends such as letters or other characters therein, and also with radial lines defining other legend spaces 20, in which other distinctive characters may be placed, as sufficiently represented b the stars 21. At a point between each two letter spaces, or at the outer end of each radial line, is a pin 22, and a pointer or ratchet 23, spring mounted on frame element 18, cooperates with the pins in an obvious manner to check the wheel after spinning with the pawl or a letter space or the like.

The hinge structure connecting the wheel frame to the main frame comprises blocks 25 secured to sides of the main frame at one end. Hinge rods 26 are inserted in or held by these plugs. These rods are bent to form eyes 27 and angularly directed stop 28. The side members of frame rod 15 are formed with end eyes 29, and pivots, which are conveniently in the form of rivets 30, are passed through the respective eyes 29 and 27 and secured by upsetting, to complete the hinge formation.

The stops 28 are so positioned, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, that when the wheel frame is turned up to operative position the side members are inclinedv somewhat rearwardly from pointer 23 indicating the vertical, so that the wheel and frame remain in proper position by gravity.

In use, the wheel is spun, letters or other characters are noted, and the user places the letters in selected squares of the slate or ad 11 to thus build up different words. Ot er modes of use will be apparent without detailed explanation. The distinctive characters such as the stars 21 represent any suitable distinctive markings, which might be color markings, or coloration of certain of the letters or other characters, to indicate, .for example, if the Wheel stops with the pointer indicating one of said special characters or markings, that the player is entitled to another turn I claim:

1. An educational or game appliance comprising a main frame, a Wheel frame hingedly connected thereto, a wheel revolubly mounted on the wheel frame, the wheel frame comprising a substantially U-shaped rod, and eyes at the ends of the rod side members, the main frame having eyed hinged members, and pivot pins passing through the respective wheel frame and hinge eyes.

2. An educational or game appliance comprising a main frame, a wheel frame hingedly connected thereto, a wheel revolubly mounted on the Wheel frame, the wheel frame comprising a substantially U-shaped rod, and eyes at the ends of the rod side members, the main frame having hinge members consisting of rods bent to form eyes and angular stops, the wheel frame eyes cooperating with the hinge eyes, and pivot pins passing through the respective eyes to form the hinge connections.

8. An educational or game appliance comprising a main frame, a wheel frame hingedly connected thereto, a wheel revolubly mounted on the wheel frame, the wheel frame comprising a substantially U-shaped rod, and eyes at the ends of the rod side members, the main frame having hinge members consisting of rods bent to form eyes and angular stops, the wheel frame eyes cooperating with the hinge eyes, and pivot pins passing through the respective eyes to form the-hinge connections, the stops being so located that when erected, the wheel frame inclines rearwardly from vertical position.

4. An educational or game appliance comprising a main frame, adapted to lie in a horizontal position when the appliance is in use, a wheel frame comprising a U-shaped member hinged at one end of the main frame, a wheel pintle carried by the wheel frame, a wheel revolubly mounted on the pintle, and a pointer carried by the wheel frame and co-l operating with the wheel.

5. An educational or game appliance com'- prising a main frame, adapted to lie in a horizontal position when the appliance is in use, a wheel frame comprising a substantially U-shaped member hinged at one end of the main frame, a wheel pintle carried by the wheel frame, a wheel revolubly mounted on the pintle, and carrying spaced pins about its circumference, a vertical post attached to the middle of the U-shaped member, and a ratchet pointer mounted on the vertical post and cooperating with the ins.

In testimon whereof I a x my signature.

SA UEL L. BAUMGARTEN. 

